Valencia tackles hunger: Free food for students in need

Valencia is making efforts across its campuses to feed hungry students who may not have the ability to do it for themselves all the time. The college is ramping up its VCentials stores, a place where students can go and get free nutritious food like fresh produce, refrigerated items, canned goods, snacks and other staples.

Dr. Kathleen Plinske, Valencia College President says in 2021 a survey revealed 40 percent of students were going hungry or skipping meals.  “How can we expect a student to learn Algebra when they are hungry or when they are wondering where their next meal will come from?” Plinske is teaming up with Florida Blue through a generous donation to make sure the food program is expanded to Valencia’s Osceola Campus. In Orlando, Disney is a major sponsor, giving $100,000 to stock the shelves.

“Being part of this community for over 50 years, we always look for local organizations that are doing great work and identify where we can best help,” said Tajiana Ancora-Brown, Director of External Affairs at Walt Disney World. “This program at Valencia is making a huge difference for students in need, and we’re proud that we can continue helping the college do that through this donation.”

More than 60,000 times the VCentials campus locations have been visited. Student Dana Lee-Reid works in one. “I’ve seen the impact is has on the student body first hand” she told a crowd gathered to celebrate the outlet on Osceola’s campus “It was an amazing feeling to see the relief on a student’s face when I explained it was a resource available to them free of charge.”

Valencia College is making a massive effort to help its students, including childcare assistance and free access to the Lynx bus service. More than 50 percent of Valencia students are first-generation college students. Most balance work and family responsibilities while pursuing their studies, and 40 percent report having skipped meals due to financial challenges. By providing these support services, the college aims to remove barriers to academic persistence and success according to a press release from the college.